LIRR to Run on Weekend Schedule Wednesday

The MTA announced Tuesday evening that the Long Island Rail Road will run on a weekend scheduled Wednesday due to the winter storm slamming the Island.

That means the railroad will provide approximately 60 to 65 percent of the trains available on a typical weekday schedule.

The MTA attributed its decision to heavy snowfall, sub-zero temperatures and strong winds brought on by the coastal storm.

The LIRR’s threshold to suspend service is between 10 to 13 inches of snow. It also takes icing and sustained winds into consideration when determining whether to alter services.

“The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced tonight that it expects to run modified service Wednesday, January 22, as the region digs out from today’s heavy snowfall amid sub-freezing temperatures and strong winds,” it said in a statement. “Service patterns will differ across the MTA network based on how the operating agencies were affected by the storm, which ranged from light snow in the lower Hudson Valley to large bands and heavy drifts on Long Island.”

The LIRR was experiencing up to 20 minute long system-wide delays due to weather conditions.

The likelihood of significant snowfall—up to 14 inches—strong winds, and bone-chill temperatures was enough for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to declare a state of emergency in both Nassau and Suffolk counties Tuesday.

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 6 a.m.

The National Weather Service said the wind chill could be as low as 13 degrees below zero.

Long Islanders should expect to wake up Wednesday morning to temperatures in the teens.

The weather service has said heavy snow could continue to fall until 4 a.m.

Rashed Mian has been covering local news for the Long Island Press since 2011. He graduated from Hofstra University in 2010 where he studied print journalism. Rashed, the staff's multimedia reporter, covers daily news for the web, shoots/edits feature videos and writes about civil liberties. He loves Afghan food and sports. Rashed is also a caffeine freak. Email: rmian@longislandpress.com. Twitter: rashedmian